As an ex employee of the house. The only way you are allowed to climb at Skytop is to pay a guide service that mohonk contracts it out with. Even as an employee we where told that if we got caught poaching the classics of Sky top we would get canned.

That said if you're going with a significant other The mountain house is truly amazing but extremely $$$$. Very kid friendly as they offer a lunch bbq during the summer. Swimming canoeing paddle boarding. It's about a 15 minute bike ride from the hotel property to the high E end of the trapps trail.